Everyday is the Best Day

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year. ~ Chinese Fortune Cookie ~

This was in my oldest daughter's fortune cookie last night.   I am going to post this somewhere where she can see it everyday.  I told her that it's really up to her to have a good life.  Many times when she gets upset she gives it an external attribution!  She points at her sister, brother, friend or even me and says that we "did something" to make her upset.   I explained that it is true that others will disappoint us or hurt us.  However, we have the ability to let it tear us down.  Instead, take stock in your own goodness.  Decided that others will not control you.  Allow the hurt and then let it go.  Life will always have its hardships but life does not have to be hard.

Affirmation, say: I will make everyday the best day.

Real Love Builds Futures

Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other

but in looking outward together in the same direction.

~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, Wind, Sand and Stars, 1939,

translated from French by Lewis Galantière

When you speak of the people you care about do you speak of the journey you are taking together?  Think of the journey of relationships like cars on the road.   Get too fixated on the interior beauty instead of the road and you will, either, never go anywhere or you will surely crash.   The purpose of the car is not the design, it is to help you on your journey.   Interiors will fade and paint will chip but take care of the car and keep it moving and it will run for a long long time.  Relationships are the same.  You might get a little grey and add a few wrinkles but if you work together on your journey, your relationship will last a long long time.

AFFIRMATION - say: "I will work with my love ones to build a future,

for there lies the fulfillment."

Believe In Your Genius

Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered

- either by themselves or by others. ~ Mark Twain

How do you hold yourself back?  Do you regularly discount the intelligence you have inside you?  Do you put yourself down, to keep from putting yourself out there for others to see?  It is up to you to shine.  You can not achieve nor attain all that you desire when you allow yourself to think you are incapable.  If you hide your true self from others, how will they ever see what you can do in this world.  Those that succeed believe in themselves.  They are not self-doubters.  They do not hide.

AFFIRMATION - say: "I believe in my genius and will be confident to the world."

Irish Blessing

May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night.
~Irish Blessing

Luck pursues you every day, at every turn and at every breath.  Luck is when an opportunity presents itself and you are ready.  Ready means you've done your homework.  Ready means you've got the right attitude.  Ready means that you've experience enough and can handle whatever is supposed to come your way.  Ready means that you are open.

 

AFFIRMATION - say: "I will be prepared when luck comes my way."

No More Excuses

To change one's life: Start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. No exceptions. ~William James

What are you waiting for?  You know you want to do something different.  You know you want to change.  So, why are you waiting?  Whatever reasons you may have, they're just excuses.   There is safety in not changing even if you are unhappy.  What if you make a change and it's worse?  Guess what!   You can change again, even, go back.  Throw those excuses aways and get planning. There are so many options out there - changing is living.  Go for it.  Get started!

AFFIRMATION - say: "I will begin to change today - with enthusiasm!"

Confidence

“To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are.” - Unknown

Stop focusing on other people…those who you think are smarter than you, been doing it longer than you, are better educated than you – it doesn’t matter.  You are who you are and all that you have to offer.  No one else can do what you do, be you or offer what you offer in the same way unique way that you do!  Focus in on your strengths and unique style.  Never discount your own experiences in life.  Even what you might call "limitations" can be a strength- a catapult to be better.   Be proud of who you are - you've earned it!

 

AFFIRMATION - say: "Today, I will celebrate all of who I am and I will never wish for another life, again."

Always Learning

I am learning all the time.  The tombstone will be my diploma.  ~Eartha Kitt

You will be taught lessons everyday in every moment until what you need to learn is absorbed.   Keep in mind though, you are a sponge with unlimited capacity for the water of wisdom.  To truly except and embrace this gift spend each day reflecting on the messages you have received.  For those that are hard, instead of getting angry, be grateful that you will at some point in your life get to relive that lesson and do it right.  For those lessons that are a easy, don't take for granted - you might miss the cue that it had been a hard lesson earlier in your life and get it repeated. 

 

AFFIRMATION - say: "I will embrace the idea that all things that happen to me, or I do to myself, are lessons to help me live."

Thoughts and Words

“It is by the fortune of God that, in this country, we have three benefits: freedom of speech, freedom of thought, and the wisdom never to use either.” ~ Mark Twain

Your thoughts and the words you use can be the end of you.  Negative thoughts and negative words can be the reasons for your inability to succeed, find peace or move forward.  Thoughts can be an instant dream killer.  Thinking about your dreams too much can keep you from taking action.  Fear will creep in very easily, when you give a voice to that negativity.  Once you give negativity or criticisms a voice, you give it more it power and you loose your courage.  Lose your courage and you never achieve or even worse retreat.   And then one day - regret.    

AFFIRMATION - say: "I will use my thoughts and words wisely to attain my dreams."

Change The Way You Think

If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it,

change the way you think about it.  ~Mary Engelbreit

You are the only one that limits your ability to change the world in which you live.  You limit yourself by how you think. You change the world with action but if you are unwilling to act then change your thinking.   Dwelling on things you are unwilling to change wastes energy, time and brain power.  However, if you are going to make change happen...begin today.  Right now. 

AFFIRMATION - say: "I will begin to change today or I will take control on how I think about the things I "think" cannot change."

Post Crisis Review

A leader or a man of action in a crisis almost always acts subconsciously and

then thinks of the reasons for his action.  ~Jawaharlal Nehru

If I could change this quote, I would substitue "acts" for" reacts" and "action" for "reaction."    Research shows that people don't think as well when they feel there is a threat.   How many times have you said or done things you wish you could take back?  Instead of beating yourself up or justifing yourself - learn from your mistakes and apologize, if neccessary.  Humans can't always help themselves from being reactionary but we can help how we think and behave after each crisis.  And we can work on improving going forward.

 

AFFIRMATION - say: "I will learn from my reactions and

try to do better today and in the future."

Fight To Be Yourself

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.  ~e.e. cummings, 1955

We often think we have to change who we are to get what we want -friends, lovers, jobs.  We so crave acceptance that we are willing to be false to our true selves.  Adapting to your environment is often wise.  Flexibility is necessary to be strong  but, deep down inside - don't ever stop being your authentic self.  That is where true strength lies.

Affirmation - say: I will strive to be my authentic self, even when I need to be adaptable and it will make me stronger.

Hard Knock or Opportunity?

It is often hard to distinguish between the hard knocks in life and those of opportunity.  ~Frederick Phillips

To distinguish between a hard knock and an opportunity, take a look at your last tough life event.  Everyone will take a moment to get angry, grieve and lick wounds.  But how long did you stay there?  If it was brief and you began to look at the lessons then you saw the opportunities.  If you wallowed for far too long or are still wallowing, then you live in a victim state.  There are no opportunities for victims. 

AFFIRMATION - say: "I will not be defeated.  I will grow and achieve!"

Get started!

"... if we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin." ~ Ivan Turgenev

Do you regularly find yourself saying that you'll get to it later.  Do you feel like there are things you have to do before you do the things you need to do?  Sometimes you just have to get started.  Sure, there are times when you need to go in order but, most times that is just an excuse. 

Stop making up reasons not to do the things you need to get started.  If you wait, time passes you. 

Affirmation -- Say: "I will begin something today."

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” ~ John Lennon

It is important to be prepared. To reach goals in life and business, you have to have a plan to attain them. Work diligently to set a path for yourself.

However, don’t get too narrow. You have many goals. Don’t work too hard at one goal at the expense of other goals or things in your life. I know a man that worked so hard to provide a roof over his kid’s head that he was never home to raise his kids.

Work hard but remember the moments in life and the important people in life. What do you and they really need? Take a moment to dial it back if it’s out of control and you are too focused on one goal.

Affirmation – Say: “I will make sure that all things in my life are given the right amount of attention.”

Consider your sources

We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are. ~Anais Nin

Anytime you think you are factual about a situation, think again. Objectivity is nearly impossible. You can improve your outlook by first checking your own agenda. Your beliefs and desires will skew anything. When listening to others - consider the source. Who are they? Who are you? These two questions will have impact in any circumstance - even something that appears to be neutral.

If you factor in your point of view and the other persons point of view, you will have a better perspective.

Affirmation – Say: “I will consider all sources in every situation and this will help me make better decisions.”

Advice

"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't." ~ Erica Jong

How many times do you ask for advice and never take it?  There are many reasons for this.

• You want someone else to blame for something not working
• The advice is not right for you at this moment in time.
• What you are told to do is too daunting.
• You didn't like the answer.
• Procrastination with things you don't want to do.
• The person who gave you the advice didn't have enough information.

Instead of asking for advice - do some soul searching.  Ask yourself questions related to your problem.  Take the time to break things down and do the pros and cons.  It's ok to ask what others would do in your situation but, stop short of having others tell you what to do.  Find the answers within yourself and watch yourself grow.

Affirmation: "I will seek the answers to my own questions.  It will make me stronger."

Socialize

“Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after.” ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Are you feeling lonely? Is it getting you down? Feel isolated? Then you need to reach out. When you feel that there is no one in the world but you, then you can get fatigued and unmotivated to do anything. Reaching out to others and creating wonderful experience can rejuvenate you. It will help you reach your goals. A simple phone call, a dinner out, tea or coffee with someone will create some inspirations and remind you that not only are you not alone but you are in good company with which to share your dreams.

Affirmation: “I will talk to someone about my dreams and how they will come true.”

Rich

“Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.” ~ Sarah Bernherdt 

Abundance comes to those that think about money in a healthy way. If you worry about debt then you are living in the past. Don’t ignore it and don’t beat yourself up with how you got there.  Instead, focus on what you can create to fill your life and amazingly, you will fill your wallet, too.

Affirmation: “I will make money by pursuing my dreams.”

Choose happiness

"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." ~ Riki Lynn Tull

It is not easy to control your thoughts and attitude.  It takes practice to get it right.  If you remind yourself daily that you are the only one that has the power to make yourself happy - then you will see it happen.  Constant water carves out rivers, gorges and the Grand Canyon.  Small happy thoughts everyday will make a difference.  Give it a try.  Otherwise, let others and other events control you and your destiny.  What do you have to lose?

Affirmation: "I have the power to control my thoughts and change my attitude no matter what happens to me."

Change

“Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” George Bernard Shaw

So many want to do better, be better, do different, be different – however, until you change your thought processes and beliefs, you will always end up in the same place you were before. The mind is so powerful, it can trick you. The last thing your brain wants you to do is change because that might mean you’ve been wrong. Just because you did something different and it didn’t work, it doesn’t make it wrong. 

It’s time – it’s time to change your mind.

Affirmation: “I will change my thoughts and beliefs so that I can be what I aspire to be.”